COVID-19 disease originates in the lungs causing severe shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue [2]. This is a result of the severe inflammatory host immune response that affects the lungs, diminishing oxygen uptake which results in endotheliitis and thrombotic events and intravascular coagulation [1]. Additionally, endothelial cell involvement was identified across the vascular system of different organs in a series of patients with COVID-19 [2], which may explain the multiorgan damage [1]. COVID-19 affects the biological functioning of vital organs by causing cardiac, acute kidney and brain injuries [1,2]. The latter can cause long-term psychosis, delirium, anxiety and confusion [3-5]. Symptoms may be permanent as these biological changes are irreversible [1]. As the number of COVID-19 survivors increases, it is becoming evident that in addition to respiratory disease, COVID-19 has long-term consequences threatening other organs.

Learning from the 1918 flu pandemic, when a large number of brain diseases and other health problems emerged over the following over the following two decades, it is crucial to understand that COVID-19 illness has long-term effects on the body. A significant proportion of survivors of the 1918 pandemic were left with pulmonary fibrosis. This condition is irreversible, and symptoms may include severe shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue. Likewise, COVID-19 is not just a respiratory disease; it can trigger a huge range of health problems. Survivors are vulnerable to cognitive impairment, and many are already experiencing neurological symptoms. The list of the illness’s effects is long. Even those who have had a mild form of COVID-19 illness have reported lasting cognitive impacts such as tiredness, memory problems and difficulty staying focused.

References:

1.  Noris M, Benigni A, Remuzzi G. The case of complement activation in COVID-19 multiorgan impact. Kidney Int. 2020 Aug;98(2):314-322. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2020.05.013. Epub 2020 May 24. PMID: 32461141; PMCID: PMC7246017.

2.     Varga Z, Flammer AJ, Haberecker M et al. Endothelial cell infection and endotheliitis in COVID-19. Lancet. 2020 April 02; 395(10224):1417-1418. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30937-5.

3.     Zhang XY, Huang HJ, Zhuang DL, Nasser MI, Yang MH, Zhu P, Zhao MY. Biological, clinical and epidemiological features of COVID-19, SARS and MERS and AutoDock simulation of ACE2. Infect Dis Poverty. 2020 Jul 20;9(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s40249-020-00691-6. PMID: 32690096; PMCID: PMC7369569.

4.     Heneka MT, Golenbock D, Latz E, Morgan D, Brown R. Immediate and long-term consequences of COVID-19 infections for the development of neurological disease. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2020 Jun 4;12(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s13195-020-00640-3. PMID: 32498691; PMCID: PMC7271826.

5.     Serrano-Castro PJ, Estivill-Torrús G, Cabezudo-García P, Reyes-Bueno JA, Ciano Petersen N, Aguilar-Castillo MJ, Suárez-Pérez J, Jiménez-Hernández MD, Moya-Molina MÁ, Oliver-Martos B, Arrabal-Gómez C, Rodríguez de Fonseca F. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases: a delayed pandemic? Neurologia. 2020 May;35(4):245-251. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2020.04.002. Epub 2020 Apr 17. PMID: 32364119; PMCID: PMC7164900.